CRB checks

In this section you can find out more about the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB)

Background

The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) is an Executive Agency of the Home Office and provides access to criminal record information, enabling organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors to identify individuals who may be unsuitable for particular types of work, especially work involving children.

If you offer a work experience placement to a school age child you may need to be CRB checked. However, it is the responsibility of the school or work placement organiser to make this decision and it will not be necessary for every member of the practice to be checked. Some work experience organisers can request that a practice is registered with the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) although it is not mandatory. However, ISA and CRB are merging under new recommendations in the Coalition Government’s review in February 2011 of both bodies and it will no longer be a requirement for those working or volunteering with vulnerable groups to register with the ISA.

Until new legislation has been introduced and new arrangements made, employers continue to be responsible as follows:

If an organisation works with children or vulnerable adults, they must not knowingly employ someone who is barred from working with children or vulnerable adults. To do so would be breaking the law.
If an organisation dismisses or removes a member of staff or a volunteer because they have harmed a child or vulnerable adult; or if a member of staff or volunteer leaves who would have been dismissed, ISA must be informed.

As soon as the position changes this information will be further updated.

What the BVA has done

In July 2008, BVA, through its Members’ Services Group (MSG), produced a guide to CRB checks as a members’ resource. This guide will be updated as soon as the Home Office, the Department for Education, the Department of Health and the CRB has implemented the new arrangements.